Major Bible Themes

By Lewis Sperry Chafer

Chapter 17

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT: HIS BAPTISM

Since all the positions and possessions of the
believer are his on the sole ground of his place in Christ through
the baptism with the Spirit, misunderstanding of this doctrine is
fraught with serious results. The safeguard here, as always, is in
adhering strictly to the Word of God. In all the Scriptures, there
are not more than eleven direct references to the baptism with the
Spirit. In taking them up in order we discover:

1. A plain
prediction by John the Baptist, mentioned once in each of the four
Gospels, that there would be a baptism with the Spirit (Mat 3:11;
Mar 1:8; Luk 3:16; Joh 1:33). This four-fold prediction is
important; but there is no light from these Scriptures as to what
constitutes that baptism with the Spirit.

2. In Act 1:4-5 we read: "And, being assembled together with
them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but
wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard
of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized
with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." Revelation here advances
only to the point of assurance that this ministry of the Spirit
would be "not many days hence." This we believe anticipates the Day
of Pentecost; but no light is yet shed on the exact meaning of this
work of the Spirit.

3. In Act 11:15-18, we have Peter's defense concerning his
unjewish action in going to the house of Cornelius the Gentile.
Peter states: "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them,
as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord,
how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be
baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the
like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ;
what was I, that I could withstand God?" Particular attention should
be given to this passage, for here, more than anywhere else in the
Scriptures, false interpretations as to the meaning of the baptism
with the Spirit are founded.

It should be noted that in this passage Peter makes three
references to the Spirit: He states that (1) the Spirit fell on
them; (2) Peter was reminded of the promise of the baptism with the
Spirit (Act 1:4-5); And (3) the Spirit was given to the Gentiles as
He had been given at Pentecost to the Jews. The error concerning
this passage arises from supposing that the Spirit "falling on them"
is identical with the baptism with the Spirit.

Turning back to Act 10:44-48, where the first account is given of
Peter's experience in Cornelius' house, we find that no reference is
made to the baptism with the Spirit; but the Spirit, it is written,
"fell on them," and as a direct result they "spake with tongues."
"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them
which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed
were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the
Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they
heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God."

It is equally important to read the account of the advent of the
Spirit on the Day of Pentecost as stated in Act 2:1-4. "And when the
day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in
one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were
sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of
fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with
the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit
gave them utterance." It should be observed that they spake with
tongues on the Day of Pentecost as a direct result of the Spirit's
filling, and that, according to Act 10:44-48, they spake with
tongues as a direct result of the Spirit falling on them. It is
therefore reasonable to conclude that the Spirit falling upon them
and the Spirit filling them are one and the same thing. In each case
the result was identical; but if this be true, it is evidently
unscriptural to relate any outward manifestations of the Spirit,
such as speaking with tongues, to the baptism with the Spirit. Not
discerning this error, multitudes today are "seeking the baptism of
the Spirit," and are assured that if "it" can be gained, they, too,
will speak with tongues.

4. Of five remaining passages which by any interpretation give
direct teaching concerning the baptism with the Spirit (Rom 6:1-4;
Gal 3:27; Eph 4:5; Col 2:12; 1Co 12:13), 1Co 12:13 alone gives any
revelation as to the meaning and purpose of this ministry. The
passage is as follows: "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into
one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or
free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."

Every great theme of Scripture will be found to be taken up
exhaustively in one central passage, and 1Co 12:13 is evidently the
one clear revelation as to the meaning of the phrase, "the baptism
with the Spirit." This passage clearly indicates that the baptism
with the Spirit is the divine operation by which believers are made
members in the Body of Christ, and are vitally united to Christ by
partaking of one Spirit.

The unsaved sustain no living relation to Christ; but the saved
are all said to be "in Christ." There was a time when they were not
in Christ, but now they are "in Him." If we inquire as to how and
when they became thus related to Christ, the answer from God's Word
would be that they were placed "in Christ" by the baptism with the
Spirit, and that it occurred at the moment they believed and were
saved. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body ... and
have been all made to drink into the Spirit."

In considering this great passage, certain crucial revelations
which are contained in it should be noted in particular:

1. The pronoun "we," as used here, and throughout the Epistles,
is an accurate classification of all saved people, in contrast with
the unsaved. The word "we" excludes every unregenerate person and,
as certainly, includes every regenerate person. No greater violence
could be done to this Scripture than to interpret this word "we" as
though it represented some inner group or favored class of
Christians. And to give the strongest possible emphasis to the fact
that every saved person is included, the word "all" is also
employed.

2. When members are added to the body of Christ it is
accomplished by the ministry of the Spirit, and this ministry is
none other than the baptism with the Spirit. By that operation those
who believe on Christ are vitally placed "in Him." As a living union
is formed by the process of grafting, and the branch thus united is
organically in the vine, and the vine by all its vitality and life
is in the branch, so the believer thus united to Christ by the
baptism with the Spirit is "in Christ" and Christ is "in him."
Again, as a member might be vitally joined to a human body and thus
be in that body as to position and relationship, and the life of the
head flowing into that new member be imparting its life-giving
energy and vital force, so, we being "in Christ," by the baptism
with the Spirit, are vitally joined to Christ, and are in Christ as
to position and relationship, and He is in us as the supply of our
eternal life and every vital force.

Whatever the former position or relationship was of either the
branch before it was grafted in, or the human member before it was
newly joined to the human body, such relationship forever ceases,
and the branch when grafted in, becomes a living part of the vine,
and the member if joined to the human body, becomes a vital part of
the very personality of the one to whom it might be joined.

It is important to note the unvarying fact that all that the
believer is and all that he has depends on his place "in Christ"
through the baptism with the Spirit (2Co 5:21; Eph 1:6; Eph 2:18).

Thus we may conclude that the baptism with the Spirit is in no
way related to the outward manifestations of power in the life of
the believer, which manifestations follow the Spirit's filling; it
is rather the placing of the believer in that vital union with
Christ wherein it may be said of him that he is "in Christ" and
Christ is "in him" (Joh 14:20).

There are upwards of one hundred passages which emphasize the
fact that the believer is "in Christ." Being in Christ is the
essential fact of the believer's position in the New Creation.
Therefore, the baptism with the Spirit is the divinely ordained
method whereby he enters that marvelous sphere of relationship
wherein Christ is the new Federal Head -- the Last Adam.

QUESTIONS

1. How many direct references to the Baptism with the Spirit
are found in the Scriptures?

2. State the information on this theme presented in the four
Gospels and Act 1:4-5.

3. State the information on this theme and use of terms in Act
11:15-18; Act 10:44-48; and Act 2:1-4.

4. Do any of these passages define the thing accomplished by
the Spirit's baptism?

5. Name the remaining passages bearing on this theme and
indicate the one which presents a definition.

6. What is accomplished by the baptism with the Spirit?

7. What class is included in this baptism?

8. When is this ministry undertaken by the Spirit?

9. What relation do the unsaved sustain to it?

10. State why you believe this ministry is not limited to some,
or a portion of the believers.

11. What two illustrations are employed in the Scriptures in
setting forth the joining of the believer to Christ?

12. Do all former relationships cease when one is baptized into
Christ's body?